Jeff has to get up early to go to school, but he wants to stay up late and watch television. His parents disapprove of him staying up late, but when they go out for the evening, he disregards their wishes and stays up late anyway. The next day he feels extremely guilty. How would Carl Rogers explain Jeff's guilt?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Carl Rogers was a humanistic psychologist who believed that people have inherent goodness and a desire for self-actualization. According to Rogers, an individual experiences guilt or anxiety when their behavior conflicts with their self-concept or the ideal self. In this case, Jeff feels guilty because his personal desire to stay up late conflicts with the values he has adopted from his parents, which suggests that it is wrong to do so. This conflict between his personal desires and his adopted values is what results in his guilt.

Jeff Has to Get Up Early to Go to School